Worst Iowa football games in Ferentz era: Nos. 4-6

Like I said in the previous post, you can't appreciate the good times without remembering the bad ones.

Is that really true? Ah, just play along with me, please.

This is the second of three servings of the doggier games in the Kirk Ferentz era at Iowa. All have silver linings. Just like dark clouds. Hmmm, that would a make a good inspirational saying. Every dark cloud has a silver lining. That will catch on like wildfire. Hmmm. Catching on like wildfire. That's a catchy phrase, too. Anyhow ...

4. Illinois 31, Iowa 0 (2000, at Champaign):

Pick-sixes didn't originate at Iowa with Ricky Stanzi in 2009. Jon Beutjer, then a Hawkeye, had an interception returned 75 yards by linebacker Mondrian Long  for an Illinois touchdown in this lopsided loss.

"He's going to be a great quarterback," Illinois Coach Ron Turner said after the game. "I really think Jon's going to be a really good quarterback. He's still young, but I think he's going to develop into a good player."

Beutjer would transfer to Illinois before his college career was over. He had some good games for the Illini before a herniated disc interrupted his career. In his final season, he threw for eight touchdowns and four interceptions.

For about 15 minutes, Iowa fans said "Beutjer is the future." It rhymed.

This game was Iowa's 12th straight road loss. The Hawkeyes had a 17-play drive lasting over nine minutes that ended with a botched fake field goal.

"That drive was symbolic," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "The miscues, the penalties, good teams finish those off. And we, especially, have to knock it in."

5. Iowa 48, Utah State 7 (2002, at Kinnick Stadium)

I don't remember this game very well, and why would I? What I do remember is I had hernia surgery earlier that week, so that's why this game didn't leave a pleasing impresson on me. I left my house for the first time in a few days when I went to Iowa City to cover this game, and then it turned out to be as dull as it promised to be.

Four years later, I missed a trip to Syracuse for a memorable Iowa game (a 20-13 win double-overtime) because of a kidney stone. As I type this today, though, I feel great. I hope you do, too. Sicknesses and surgeries stink.

Iowa had a 36-31 home loss to Iowa State the week before this game. The Hawkeyes wouldn't lose again in the regular-season. Funny how players know things like the following:

"We feel like the Big Ten's wide-open," Iowa defensive tackle Colin Cole said. "We have a chance, we can actually win the Big Ten. We feel that way, still. We had a loss last week, but our season isn't over by a long shot."

6. Arizona State 44, Iowa 7 (2004, at Tempe, Ariz.) This one sticks in the minds of Hawkeye fans six years later. Like a cactus.  I've heard this game brought up many a time as people discuss Iowa playing at Arizona this September.

That game can't possibly be as ugly as the one at ASU, which started about 45 minutes late because of a thunderstorm in the desert.

Arizona State had 511 yards to Iowa's 100. Andrew Walter passed for 428 yards and five touchdowns.

After the game, a boy hanging over a railing asked Walter for the ball. But Walter shook his head at the young fella and smiled, saying "This is the record-breaker. I gotta keep this one."

Iowa had beaten ASU 21-2 in Iowa City the year before.

Sun Devils Coach Dirk Koetter had Walter in the game midway through the fourth quarter with a 37-0 lead. On third-and-goal at the 5, he had Walter go for (and get) his fifth TD pass.

Koetter was fired two years later, and is now an NFL offensive coordinator. Iowa went on to share the Big Ten title that season and win the Capital One Bowl.